Psychosocial Difficulties Profiles Among Youth with Intellectual Disabilities.

This study sought to identify the various configurations, or profiles, of internalizing and externalizing behaviors found among a sample of youth with intellectual disabilities (ID). These behaviors were assessed twice over one year, using self, parental, and teacher reports. Six variables were hypothesized to predict profile membership: Parent-child relationship (i.e., warmth and conflict), student-teacher relationship (i.e., warmth and conflict), peer acceptance, and peer victimization. To this end, we conducted Latent Profile Analysis among a sample of 393 youth with ID (aged 11-22 years old) recruited in Canada (French-speaking; n = 142; 49.30% boys) and Australia (English-speaking; n = 251; 67.30% boys). Our results revealed five profiles: (1) Adjusted (13.48%), (2) Mild School-related Difficulties (34.38%), (3) Underestimation of Mild Difficulties (12.40%), (4) High Difficulties (19.45%), and (5) Internalizing Difficulties Unobserved at School (20.19%). These profiles, as well as profile membership, remained stable over time. Lower levels of student-teacher warmth, lower levels of peer acceptance, and higher levels of peer victimization were associated with a higher likelihood of membership into profiles characterized by above-average levels of psychosocial difficulties, especially self-reported. Based on these findings, future interventions addressing internalizing and externalizing behaviors could benefit from focusing on the school environment, notably peer acceptance and student-teacher warmth.

School Experiences and Anxiety Trajectories Among Youth with Intellectual Disabilities.

This study investigated how the school experiences and personal characteristics of youth with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) contribute to their longitudinal trajectories of anxiety. To this end, we relied on a sample of 390 youth with mild (48.2%) to moderate (51.8%) levels of ID, aged from 11 to 22 (M = 15.70), and recruited in Canada (n = 140) and Australia (n = 250). Across three yearly time points, all participants completed self-report measures of anxiety, school climate, and victimization. Our results revealed a slight normative decrease in anxiety over time and showed that experiences of school victimization were associated with higher levels of anxiety (initially and momentarily) and increases in victimization were accompanied by increases in anxiety over time. Perceptions of attending a school that fosters security and promotes learning also tended to be accompanied by lower levels of anxiety (initially and momentarily). Momentary increases in perceptions of attending a school that fosters positive peer interactions were associated with momentary decreases in anxiety, whereas momentary increases in perceptions of attending a school characterized by positive teacher-student relationships and an equitable treatment of all students both led to small momentary increases in anxiety once all other components of student school experiences were considered. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.

Toward a Comprehensive Assessment of Relationships with Teachers and Parents for Youth with Intellectual Disabilities.

This study proposes a multi-informant (youth, teachers, and parents) measure of relationship quality with adults for youth with intellectual disabilities (ID). A sample of 395 youth with mild (49.15%) and moderate (50.85%) ID, aged 11-22 (M = 15.82) was recruited in Canada (French-speaking, N = 142), and Australia (English-speaking, N = 253). Results support the reliability, factor validity, discriminant validity (in relation to sex, ID level, country, and comorbidity), convergent validity (depression, anxiety, aggressiveness, and prosocial behaviors), and one-year longitudinal stability of the measure. Youth self-reports provide a complementary perspective on relationship quality with adults relative to teachers' or parents' reports, whereas teachers and parents seem unable to differentiate their own perspective from that of the target youth.

Longitudinal Associations Between Relationship Quality and Depression Among Youth with Intellectual Disabilities: A Latent Change Perspective.

This study investigates associations between initial levels and change in the quality of the relationships youth with intellectual disabilities (ID) share with their parents and teachers, and changes in their levels of depression over time. A sample of 395 youth with mild (48.3%) and moderate (51.7%) ID, aged between 11 and 22 (M = 15.69), were recruited in Canada (n = 142) and Australia (n = 253). Youth completed self-report measures of relationship quality and depression twice over a one-year period. Initial levels of warmth (ß = - .109) and conflict (ß = - .302) predicted decreases in depression. Increases in warmth predicted decreases in depression (ß = - .179), while increases in conflict predicted increases in depression (ß = .268). Discrepancies between youth relationships with their parents and teachers predicted decreases in depression (ßwarmth = - .732; ßconflict = - .608).

Social Interaction Profiles Among Youth with Intellectual Disabilities: Associations with Indicators of Psychosocial Adjustment.

This study investigates the nature of the social interaction profiles observed among youth with intellectual disabilities (ID), defined while considering their relationships with their parents, peers, and teachers, as well as the implication of these profiles for self-esteem, aggressive behaviors, and prosocial behaviors. A sample of 393 youth with mild (48.2%) to moderate (51.8%) levels of ID, aged between 11 and 22 (M = 15.70), was recruited in Canada (n = 141) and Australia (n = 253). Our results revealed four profiles, corresponding to Socially Isolated (23.24%), Socially Integrated (39.83%), Socially Rejected (28.37%) and Socially Connected (8.57%) youth with ID. The socially integrated and connected profiles both presented higher self-esteem, more prosocial behaviors, and less aggressive behaviors than the socially isolated and rejected profiles.

Development and Validation of a Multi-informant Measure of Social Behaviors for Youth with Intellectual Disabilities.

Youth with intellectual disability (ID) are at an increased risk of displaying fewer prosocial behaviors and more numerous aggressive behaviors in various environments. This study proposes a new multi-informant (youth, teachers, and parents) measure of social behaviors for youth with ID. The sample includes 348 youth with mild (51.41%) and moderate (48.59%) levels of ID, aged 11-22 years old (M = 15.73, SD = 2.14; including 138 females), enrolled in secondary schools in Canada (French-speaking; N = 116; 33.33%) and Australia (English-speaking; N = 232; 66.67%). Measures were completed by the participants, their teachers, and their parents. Results support the reliability, factor validity, discriminant validity (in relation to sex, ID level, and country), concurrent validity (with measures of victimization, depression, hyperactivity-inattention), and one-year test-retest stability of the measure. Youth, teachers, and parents all provided a complementary perspective on youth social behaviors, consistent with youth adjusting their behaviors to the various environments in which they share social interactions.

The moderating role of teacher-student relationships on the association between peer victimization and depression in students with intellectual disabilities.

BACKGROUND: Students with intellectual disabilities (ID) are at increased risk of peer victimization and depressive symptoms. Little is known about the protective and aggravating factors that influence the association between peer victimization and depressive symptoms among students with ID. AIMS: This study assesses the moderating role of two facets of teacher-student relationships (TSR)-warmth and conflict-on the association between peer victimization and depressive symptoms. METHODS: A sample of 395 students (aged 11-22) with mild and moderate ID was recruited in Canada and Australia. RESULTS: Hierarchical multiple regressions indicated that victimization and TSR conflict were both associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms, and that TSR conflict moderated the associations between both TSR warmth and victimization, and depressive symptoms. TSR warmth was related to lower levels of depression only for students who also reported a low level of TSR conflict. Similarly, associations between victimization and depression were weaker among students exposed to more conflictual TSR. CONCLUSIONS: Students with ID are at increased risk of developing depressive symptoms when exposed to negative social relationships (i.e., peer victimization or TSR conflict). For these students, the benefits of TSR warmth were far less important than the consequences of conflict.